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Monday, 29 September 2014

Back after a fortnight and the Indian summer goes on. Its as if the season
is teetering on the edge of change, like a swimmer on the edge of the sea
dabbling their toes in the water but reluctant to dive in. It felt very much as
if nature was holding its breath on Saturday and it was very quiet and still, by
Sunday we were basking in warm sunshine from the start and there was much more
activity to be seen.

It looks very much as if the Cettis Warbler that has been heard once or
twice in the last month or so has finally found an area to its liking. It was
heard on both Saturday and Sunday in the hedgerow and ditches near to the second
screen. As well as calling occasionally with its characteristic shout, it could
also be heard chuntering away with a complex and much quieter sub-song. It is so
good to hear once again what had been a characteristic sound of the moor until
the severe winter of 2011/2.

and again (c) Bark

There are also a fair number of Chiffchaffs present
with the tit flocks and at least two Reed Warblers are still here.

The bittern on flyabout (c) anon

The Bittern put on a splendid flying display on Sunday morning. It appeared
to be mobbed by some Black headed gulls that put it up from the northern edge of
the southern reedbed and then pursued it out across Greenaways as far as
Ashgrave, it then turned back towards us and made a stately flight back towards
the reedbed where it did a couple of circuits before vanishing into the reeds.
It was beautiful to see it in such bright low sunlight and it was possible to
really appreciate the complexity, subtlety and colour of its plumage.

There are a significant number of Stonechats on the reserve now with seven
being counted on the path between the hide and July’s Meadow on Saturday and at
least three on the way to the first screen on Sunday. There are still Wheatears
and Whinchats to be found with several of each reported over the weekend. There
was a Whinchat hunting from the heavily cropped hedge on the way out to the Pill
on Sunday morning.

A Grey Wagtail landed on the mud bank in front of the first screen briefly
on Sunday morning and then rapidly made off towards Ashgrave, it is always a
nice bird to seen as they are not common on the moor.

Geese on flyabout (c) Bark

From time to time all
sounds are obliterated by the honking of the huge flocks of feral geese that are
currently to found on the moor. They presage every move with a honking that
starts off fairly quietly but steadily rises to a crescendo until they take to
the air en masse. This happens several times each morning as they commute
between the lagoons on the reedbed and their feeding or resting areas. Herons ,Egrets and Kingfishers continue to put on a great show at the first screen.

Grey heron (c) Mark Chivers

Little Egret (c) Mark Chivers

Kingfisher (c) Tezzer

There were still at east two Hobbies present on Sunday. On Saturday morning
a Kestrel spent a long time persistently mobbing three juvenile Common Buzzards
that were sitting on posts on Ashgrave. There was no sign of the Marsh Harriers
this weekend and I did not hear of any sightings last week it could be that they
have moved on now for the winter.

Seven Swans a'swimming (c) Bark

Two Redwings flew over on Sunday an augury of what is to come in October,
while at least a hundred hirundines, mostly swallows, hawked low over the reeds
on Saturday morning pausing only briefly before moving on.

The delight of autumn colour (c) Bark

October will soon be upon us and winter visitors will start to flood in to
exploit the bounty in the hedgerows. This weekend however it is the return of
the Cettis that has given me most pleasure, it is always good to get something
back where you feel it belongs.

Sunday, 14 September 2014

A rather quiet weekend on the birdfront. The moor was rather grey and still
first thing but warmed up during the mornings. There is a quietness about this
part of the season almost as if nature is taking a deep breath before plunging
into autumn and then all to rapidly into winter. The hedgerows are full of fruit
and seeds and leaves are just beginning to turn colour so the foliage is tinted
with oranges and soft browns.

Haws (c) Bark

A Green sandpiper is still frequenting the second Greenaways scrape, which
is now little more than a few muddy puddles and before the week is over will be
dry. There are still several Marsh Harriers present and on Saturday at least
three Hobbies were on and over Big Otmoor and Greenaways. A Peregrine was mobbed
by corvids along the northern edge of big Otmoor on Saturday and there are a
number of Kestrels over the whole reserve. A Honey Buzzard was seen on passage
on Wednesday one of three seen recently in the county. It was also a welcome
addition to the yearlist.

Noke Swallows (c) Bark

A couple of Whinchats and a Wheatear were seen and up at Noke Swallows are
gathering on the wires like musical notes on a stave.

Greylags and Canadas (c) Bark

There are huge numbers of feral geese on the reserve with a count of over five hundred on Sunday.

Jays are much more noticeable around the reserve now as they move in to
harvest the acorns from the oaks along the bridleway and roman Road.

Jay (c) John Reynolds

At the first screen a Kingfisher has continued to entertain both birders
and photographers alike.

Kingfisher (c) Bark

Herons are stalking the shallows and Snipe can be
spotted probing the large areas of mud that have now been exposed. Occasionally
Water Rails, both adults and juveniles can be seen scurrying from one patch of
cover to another. More often than not they are heard and not seen, squealing in
their distinctive pig like way.

Water Rail (c) John Reynolds

There was still at least one Redstart still in Long Meadow today and one or
two Lesser Whitethroats.

It was good to find a freshly emerged Comma Butterfly along the Roman Road
this morning. It provided a warm splash of colour amid the cooler greens and a
reminder of both of the summer that has passed and the colours of autumn to
come.

Tuesday, 9 September 2014

Calm grey starts to the days this weekend but giving way mid morning to
warm sunshine. The moor seemed very still with barely a breath of wind and as I
arrived on Saturday morning all I could hear was a very quiet sub-song coming
from a Willow Warbler feeding in the briars and a couple of Chiffchaffs calling
along the Roman Road. On Saturday I had the place entirely to myself until mid
morning, which was its own particular pleasure. As over the last few weeks,
finding a mixed feeding flock is always rewarding and this weekend was no
different. In amongst the Great Tits and the Long Tails were all the expected
warblers including a Garden Warbler and several Blackcaps. Along the trail to
the first screen I was pleased to find the first returning Stonechat of the
autumn in company with a couple of Whinchats.

Whinchat (c) Bark

It was a single male but by Sunday
it seemed to have moved on. A Wheatear was on the large pile of manure just
beside the gate onto Closes on Saturday morning. There were still five Redstarts
and a single Spotted Flycatcher in Long Meadow.

Harrier (c) John Reynolds

Two over the reedbed (c) Bark

Lone male? over Greenaways

There are currently at least three and possibly four Marsh Harriers hunting
over the reserve, at one time on Sunday morning three were visible at the same
time and later a mature male was reported and none of those three were mature
males....hence possibly four. At one time two Harriers, a Sparrowhawk, two Kites
and a Common Buzzard were all occupying the same sector of the sky, and clearly
from their interaction, not happy to share it.

The interest this weekend however switched away from passerines and on to
waders. At least two

Common Sandpiper Monday (c) John Reynolds

Green sandpipers were present and most easily seen on the
Greenaways scrape. On Sunday they were accompanied at times by a very
inconspicuous Ringed Plover. There was still at least one Black Tailed Godwit
favouring the lagoon in front of the first screen and also a Greenshank that
came and went from time to time calling loudly. Two Ruff also dropped in on Sunday.

Calling Greenshank (c) Bark

The highlight was a Little Stint that turned up in front of the screen on
Sunday afternoon. There was also a Little Ringed Plover with it that really
served to emphasise the tiny nature of the Stint. On Saturday morning a Golden
Plover was heard flying over yet another indicator of the changing seasons. I am
sure that the passage of waders is not yet over, as the water evaporates more
and better feeding areas will be exposed and so we might look forward to other
passage visitors. Perhaps a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Lesser Yellowlegs or some
other exciting and unusual American visitor will return and spend some time out on the
moor.

Grey Heron (c) John Reynolds

Strike ! (c) John Reynolds

Heron (c) Andy Last

Little egret pics (c) Andy Last

Even without the waders there was a lot to see at the screen with Herons
and Little egrets performing out on the lagoon and even the odd Bittern flying
past. From careful observation there would appear to be at least two Bitterns
present. The Egrets in particular are hoovering up the small fry in the
shallows. The fish are also being targeted by several Kingfishers that are
becoming increasingly tolerant of observers and taking advantage of the perches
around the edges.

Kingfisher on a convenient post (c) John Reynolds

Over the next few weeks there will be lots to look out for and perhaps a
few surprises, its a great time of year.

Monday, 1 September 2014

There was a welcome return to summer weather this weekend, at the end of
what has been a rather chilly and unseasonal month.

There were fewer waders present with just a single Greenshank and a Green
Sand being reported on Sunday and of course the regular Snipe and Lapwings at
the first screen.

Greenshank Greenaways (c) John Reynolds

I failed to see either of the Marsh Harriers that have been
regular over the last two months and have not heard of any sightings of them. It
may well be that they have moved on. Another Osprey was reported on Sunday
drifting over but not staying to fish. Hobbies were reported on both days with
up to four present on Saturday.

Most of the interest this weekend was focussed on passerines in the
hedgerows and out on the field margins. Whinchats are present in good numbers
and on Saturday there were ten up by the farm at Noke there were also four out
at the Pill and a couple on the edges of Big Otmoor. They are always animate and
busy, hawking insects from fence-lines and perching high on rushes and docks.

Whinchat Big Otmoor (c) Bark

There were six Spotted Flycatchers out in Saunders field on Saturday, they may
well have been there still on Sunday but the red flag was flying and so there
was no access. They have become very obliging and will allow a fairly close
approach. They are very delicately and softly marked, close scope views really
allowing one to appreciate their beauty.

Spot Fly (c) Peter West

It has been a good year for Redstart passage and again they were cropping
up along the hedges and especially in Long Meadow where there were at least six
on Sunday. Terry and I found another half way along the bridle way. It gave
itself away by that distinctive tail of red-gold as it flew across in front of
us. I can't imagine a time when I would not be excited by that flash of colour.

Fireflirt along bridleway (c) Tezzer

While looking for Redstarts in Long Meadow I had my best birding experience
of the whole weekend. There was a large mixed party of tits and warblers moving
around the isolated bushes and the hedgerows. When we stopped to look carefully
there were at least ten pristine Lesser Whitethroats, slightly fewer Common
Whitethroats, a few male and female Blackcaps and a large number of Willow
warblers and Chiffchaffs. This mixture of warblers had coalesced around a party
of Long Tailed Tits, Great and Blue Tits. There was even a Marsh Tit amongst
them as a bonus.

Chiffy (c) John Reynolds

Marsh Tit (c) John Reynolds

Another chiffy ? (c) Bark

The birds were feeding partially on blackberries and also on
the abundant insects that the ripe fruit was attracting. As well as feeding
there was some very busy interaction going on between birds as they chased each
other and occasionally intimidated a bird of another species, if it was feeding
where they wished to be. It was great standing there with so much going on and
with so much to look at. Sometimes the best birding happens when you stay still
and let things come to you rather than chasing around after them.